Multicompartment locking assembly

ABSTRACT

An elongated housing having a plurality of aligned doors capable of sliding in a horizontal position to open and close various compartments of the housing. A locking assembly capable of simultaneously locking all of the doors in the closed position. If desired, some doors can be maintained in the unlocked position while cooperating with an inwardly extending ledge for maintaining the compartment closed.

nil States Inventor Herman 11.. lBuffington 11100 Partridge Road, Spartnnburg, Si). 29302 Appi. No. 25,9ld

Filed Apr. 6, 11970 Patented Aug. 3, 1971 MlJL'llllCOMPARTl'l/IENT UOQMIING ASSEMBLY 5 C5, 4 Drawing Figs.

11.8. Cll 312/217,

Int. Cl 1205b 65/416,

Field oil rein 312/114,

{56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,716,169 6/1929 Hart .4 312/217 2,492,695 12/1949 Henderson 312/116 X 2,835,547 5/1958 Erismann 312/219 3,374,043 3/1968 Lewin 312/219 Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam Attorney-Bailey and Dority ABSTRACT: An elongated housing having a plurality of aligned doors capable of sliding in a horizontal position to open and close various compartments of the housing. A locking assembly capable of simultaneously looking all of the doors in the closed position. if desired, some doors can be maintained in the unlocked position while cooperating with an inwardly extending ledge for maintaining the compartment closed.

MULTHCQMUPAIRTMENT ILUCllillhlG ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a housing having a plurality of aligned doors with a locking assembly for simultaneously locking all ofthe doors.

Frequently, operators using elongated refrigerated boxes having a plurality of sliding doors therein, desire to lock all of the doors. Providing each of the individual doors with a locking assembly is not only expensive, but it is inconvenient in keeping up with all of the keys for the individual doors. lt is also desirable that an operator can lock some of the doors preventing access to certain of the compartments, while allowing the other doors to be unlocked. The doors that remain unlocked should be able to be closed, preventing cold air from escaping from the refrigerator box. In many states when such multicompartment boxes are used for cooling various types of drinks it is often desired that on particular days and after certain hours of other days that the compartment in which alcoholic beverages are maintained be locked, preventing access thereto.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a multicompartmcnt elongated housing having a plurality of doors with a locking assemble wherein, all of the compartments can be simultaneously locked.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerated box which has a plurality of multicompartmerits and doors with a locking assembly wherein a metal to metal contact is prevented so as to minimize condensation around the locking assembly.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a multicompartment elongated housing which has a plurality of sliding doors with a locking assembly which permits some of the doors to be locked, while allowing others to be in a apartially closed position but unlocked.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification, and by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view illustrating a multicompartment box, with parts broken away, to show a locking assembly associated therewith,

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, illustrating a sliding door in a partially closed position rest ing on a ledge for maintaining the refrigerated air within the box,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1, illustrating a portion of the locking assembly and, in particular, an actuating member and a cam which rotates the actuating member to lock the doors, and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the cam and actuating member forming part of the locking assembly.

The drawing illustrates a multicompartment elongated housing A having a plurality of sliding doors B for providing access to respective compartments of the housing A. Each of the doors B is carried by the housing A for allowing the doors to move from a closed position to an open position. A locking assembly is provided for said housing that is capable of simuitaneously locking all of the doors B in a closed position against a main body portion of the housing. The locking assembly includes an elongated rod C extending across the housing adjacent each of the doors B. Bracket means are carried on the main body ofthe housing A forjournaling the elongated rod C for permitting the rod to rotate therein. A retaining member D is carried by each of the doors B adjacent the elongated rod C. A plurality oflatching members E are spaced along the rod adjacent a respective retaining member D. An actuating member F is carried by the rod in fixed relationship therewith. A cam G is rotatably carried by the housing A for engaging the actuat ing member F when rotated in one direction to rotate the elongated rod C, and the latching members E into engagement with the retaining members D for locking the doors B in a closed position. An inwardly extending ledge H which extends across the front portion of the housing perpendicular to the direction of the movement of the doors B is provided for supporting a front portion of the doors while in a partially closed position. In both the closed and partially closed position refrigerated air is prevented from escaping from the housing.

The multicompartment housing is rectangular in shape, and is formed by sidewalls ill and ill which arejoined by end walls 12 and 13, respectively. A raised portion 114 extendsthe length of the housing and approximately one-half way across the top so that the doors M can slide thereunder to open the compartments. Each of the walls has an inner wall lllla, which is spaced from the outer walls llll through 13, respectively, so that insulation can be carried therebetween. As can be seen in FIGS. it through 3, the sidewall ill inclines upwardly and inwardly as at 16 and terminates in a downwardly extending vertical wali li Adjacent the bottom of the vertical wall 17 is a ledge H which extends inwardly for supporting an inner end of the door 8. It is also noted that insulation material ill; is carried between the spaced walls 118 and 19, respectively, ofthe door.

The doors B ride on opposed tracks 20 which are supported on dividers 2i extending from the front well W of the housing rearwardly to the backwall. The tracks 2%) adjacent each end of the housing is supported on the end walls l2 and 13, respectively.

It is desired to provide a locking assembly wherein all of the doors B can be locked simultaneously. The locking assembly includes a plurality of spaced brackets 22 which are attached to the inner wall lllla by any suitable means, such as screws 23, and has inwardly extending flanges lid with holes therein for accommodating grommets 24a. The rod C is journaled within these grommets for allowing such to rotate. A retaining member I) is carried on the bottom wall W of each of the doors and includes a channel shaped portion 25 which is secured to the door 8 by means of a bolt .26 extending therethrough and the door into a handle 27 carried on top of the door for opening and closing the door. Integral with one side of the channel 25 is a horizontal flange 28 which terminates in a downwardly and rearwardly inclined member 29 which cooperates with the latching member E for locking the door in the closed position illustrated in FIG. 3.

The latching member includes an upwardly and forwardly inclined member 30 which is integral with said actuating member F. The actuating member includes a lift plate M which has one end fixed to the rod C, as by welding or any other suitable means, and the other end extending outwardly therefrom. The end of the lift plate 33! which is attached to the rod, bent around the rod and is integral with one end of an outwardly extending inclined member 32.. As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the inclined member 32 extends downwardly and has one side 33 sloping off therefrom. Such is to permit the cam G to engage a sloping portion 33 to rotate the rod C in the counterclockwise direction as looking into the drawing in FIG. 3. When the cam G is rotated in the clockwise direction it engages a lifting plate 31 and rotates the rod C in the clockwise direction as looking into the drawing in FIG. 3 raising the latching mechanism into engagement with the retaining member D.

The cam G is elongated with rounded ends so that the outermost rounded end 34 is allowed to engage the sloping surface 33 on the inclined member 32. The other end of the cam member G has a hole therein through which a nonmetallic bolt 35 passes to secure the cam member G to a nonmetallic extension 36. The bolt 35 extends through the extension 36 and is screwed into an end ofa tumbler assembly 37. The tumbler assembly 37, in turn, has threads on its outer perimeter so that such can be screwed within a nonmetallic sleeve 3t having an outwardly extending flange 39 which fits flush with the inner wall lie of the housing. It is noted that the tumbler extends through the insulation IS in the housing and out the outer wall ll, and is secured thereto by a retaining plate 40. The inner end of the tumbler assembly 37 rotates as the key 41 is turned, causing the cam member G to rotate therewith to either latch or unlatch the locking assembly. It is noted that the extension 36, the nut 35, and the sleeve 38 are all constructed of a nonmetallic material, such as nylon, so that there is no metal to metal contact between the inside of the housing and the outer wall 11 through the locking assembly, This minimizes condensation from collecting around the lock and interferring with the operation thereof.

Only one tumbler assembly 37 is utilized for locking all of the doors B in position simultaneously. This tumbler assembly is centrally located in the front wall 11- of the housing on line 3-3. Adjacent each of the other doors is a latching member E which is welded to the rod C, as illustrated in FIG. 2, which has the upwardly and inwardly inclined member 30 integral with the end thereof. The retaining member D is the same for all of the doors.

Frequently, it is desired to lock some of the doors while permitting the other doors to remain unlocked, but in a closed position. This is accomplished by positioning the retaining member D a predetermined distance from the front of the door so that when the door rests on the ledge H, as illustrated in FIG. 2, in a partially closed position the latching member E will miss the retaining member when turned. This will enable the operatorto lock off compartments that contain items, such as alcoholic beverages, while permitting customers to use other compartments. The ledge H should extend inwardly sufficiently so that the front end of the door can rest therein to close the compartment, yet allowing the latching member to rotate freely.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination a multicompartment elongated housing having a plurality of doors for providing access to respective compartments of said housing, each of said doors carried by said housing for allowing said doors to move from a closed position to an open position, a locking assembly for said housing capable of simultaneously locking all of said doors in said closed position wherein said doors rest flush against a main body portion of said housing, said locking assembly including an elongated rod extending across said housing adjacent each of said doors, brackets carried on said main body portion of said housing for journaling said elongated rod permitting said rod to rotate therein, a downwardly and rearwardly inclined member carried on each of said doors adjacent said elongated rod, a plurality of upwardly and forwardly inclined members spaced along said rod adjacent a respective downwardly and rearwardly inclined member, an actuating member fixed to said rod, and a cam rotatably carried by said housing for engaging said actuating member when rotated in one direction to rotate said elongated rod and said forwardly and upwardly inclined members into engagement with said downwardly and rearwardly inclined members for locking said doors in said closed position.

2. The housing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said actuating member includes a lift plate having one end fixed to said rod and the other end extending outwardly therefrom and an outwardly extending inclined member having one end fixed to an opposite side of said rod from said lift plate, and said cam being positioned between said lift plate and said inclined member for engaging said lift member when rotated in one 1 taneously locking all of said doors in said closed osition against a main body portion of said housing, said loc mg assembly including an elongated rod extending across said housing adjacent each of said doors, bracket means carried on said main body portion of said housing for journaling said elongated rod permitting said rod to rotate therein, a retaining member carried by each of said doors adjacent said elongated rod, a plurality of latching members said actuating member including a lift plate having one end fixed to said rod and the other end extending outwardly therefrom an actuating member carried by said rod and a cam rotatably carried by said housing for engaging said left plate when rotated in one direction to rotate said elongated rod and said latching members into engagement with said retaining members for locking said doors in said closed position.

4. The multicompartment housing as set forth in claim 3, wherein said housing has a plurality of horizontal tracks upon which said doors slide when being opened and closed, an inwardly extending ledge extending across a front portion of said housing perpendicular to the direction of movement of said door, a front portion of said doors resting on said ledge when in a closed position, said ledge being ofa predetermined width for allowing said front portion of said door to rest on a forward portion thereof when a door is in a partially closed position, said retaining members being positioned on said doors so that said latching member fails to engage said retaining member when said door is in the partially closed position as said cam is rotated in said one direction, whereby some of doors can be locked while allowing others to remain unlocked in the partially closed position.

5. The multicompartment housing as set forth in claim 3, wherein said cam is carried on one end ofa nonmetallic extension within said housing, said other end of said extension is carried by a tumbler assembly capable of being rotated by a key, said tumbler assembly being carried within a wall of said housing extending through said housing to the outside thereof only allowing said nonmetallic extension to extend within said housing, whereby a metal to metal relationship is avoided through said nonmetallic extension and said tumbler assembly minimizing condensation. 

1. In combination a multicompartment elongated housing having a plurality of doors for providing access to respective compartments of said housing, each of said doors carried by said housing for allowing said doors to move from a closed position to an open position, a locking assembly for said housing capable of simultaneously locking all of said doors in said closed position wherein said doors rest flush against a main body portion of said housing, said locking assembly including an elongated rod extending across said housing adjacent each of said doors, brackets carried on said main body portion of said housing for journaling said elongated rod permiTting said rod to rotate therein, a downwardly and rearwardly inclined member carried on each of said doors adjacent said elongated rod, a plurality of upwardly and forwardly inclined members spaced along said rod adjacent a respective downwardly and rearwardly inclined member, an actuating member fixed to said rod, and a cam rotatably carried by said housing for engaging said actuating member when rotated in one direction to rotate said elongated rod and said forwardly and upwardly inclined members into engagement with said downwardly and rearwardly inclined members for locking said doors in said closed position.
 2. The housing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said actuating member includes a lift plate having one end fixed to said rod and the other end extending outwardly therefrom and an outwardly extending inclined member having one end fixed to an opposite side of said rod from said lift plate, and said cam being positioned between said lift plate and said inclined member for engaging said lift member when rotated in one direction to rotate said rod in one direction and to engage said inclined member when rotated in the opposite direction to rotate said inclined member and said rod in the opposite direction for locking and unlocking said doors.
 3. A multicompartment housing having a plurality of aligned doors for providing access to respective compartments of said housing, each of said doors carried by said housing for allowing said doors to move from a closed position to an open position, a locking assembly for said housing capable of simultaneously locking all of said doors in said closed position against a main body portion of said housing, said locking assembly including an elongated rod extending across said housing adjacent each of said doors, bracket means carried on said main body portion of said housing for journaling said elongated rod permitting said rod to rotate therein, a retaining member carried by each of said doors adjacent said elongated rod, a plurality of latching members said actuating member including a lift plate having one end fixed to said rod and the other end extending outwardly therefrom an actuating member carried by said rod and a cam rotatably carried by said housing for engaging said left plate when rotated in one direction to rotate said elongated rod and said latching members into engagement with said retaining members for locking said doors in said closed position.
 4. The multicompartment housing as set forth in claim 3, wherein said housing has a plurality of horizontal tracks upon which said doors slide when being opened and closed, an inwardly extending ledge extending across a front portion of said housing perpendicular to the direction of movement of said door, a front portion of said doors resting on said ledge when in a closed position, said ledge being of a predetermined width for allowing said front portion of said door to rest on a forward portion thereof when a door is in a partially closed position, said retaining members being positioned on said doors so that said latching member fails to engage said retaining member when said door is in the partially closed position as said cam is rotated in said one direction, whereby some of doors can be locked while allowing others to remain unlocked in the partially closed position.
 5. The multicompartment housing as set forth in claim 3, wherein said cam is carried on one end of a nonmetallic extension within said housing, said other end of said extension is carried by a tumbler assembly capable of being rotated by a key, said tumbler assembly being carried within a wall of said housing extending through said housing to the outside thereof only allowing said nonmetallic extension to extend within said housing, whereby a metal to metal relationship is avoided through said nonmetallic extension and said tumbler assembly minimizing condensation. 